On January 20, 2009, M.S. 88 will have the opportunity to celebrate this historic inauguration as a school community. Viewing sites will be open for houses to gather together to watch the inauguration live and write reflections as witnesses to history. Here are some resources to help you plan events and lessons leading up to the big day.
Our Plans for the Inauguration
Activities and events have been planned school-wide so that the 88 community may participate in an experience that will go down in history. Do not miss this day at 88! All parents are invited beginning at 12:00 noon. Festivities and activities will include:
Decorations throughout the school and viewing areas, including large-scale photos of the President-Elect, Martin Luther King, Jr., and other historical figures
Large designated viewing areas where all students, staff, and parents will be able to watch the inaugural ceremony live
Student-created writing prompts for reflection during and after the inauguration
Costumed student actors playing historical figures
A bound book and video collage to be produced after the inauguration commemorating our experiences as witness to history
Inauguration Day Schedule
The partnership between the DOE and ABC News will allow for a continual internet news feed before and after President-Elect Obama's inauguration ceremony on Tuesday, following the schedule below.
11:30 AM
The Official Ceremony begins
Call to Order and Welcoming Remarks: Senator Dianne Feinstein
Invocation: Dr. Rick Warren
Aretha Franklin will sing
Vice President-Elect Joe Biden will be sworn into office
Music composed by John Williams and performed by Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Gabriela Montero, and Anthony McGill
12:00 Noon
The Oath of Office will be administered.
12:05 PM (approx)
President Barack Obama will give his inaugural address, speaking to the nation and world, for the first time, as President of the United States, followed by:
Poem: Elizabeth Alexander
Benediction: The Reverend Dr. Joseph E. Lowery
The National Anthem: The United States Navy Band "Sea Chanters"
Classroom Resources
President-Elect: Inauguration and Preparing for the White House Teacher Vision provides many lesson plans, links, articles, and activities to prepare for the inauguration and teach presidential history. These include: inaugural poetry, past notable inaugural addresses, journalling activities about "a day in the life" of a new president, biographical material on Obama, and writing letters to the new President.
Inauguration Day: More teacher resources from Education World, including subject-specific worksheets and activities for literacy, social studies, science, and art.
Inaugural Day Events: A step-by-step look at the events on Inauguration Day, from the Senate's web site.
‘A New Birth of Freedom’—2009 Inaugural Theme: The theme of the 2009 inauguration is "A New Birth of Freedom," centered around Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. The Senate provides information on Lincoln, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Gettysburg Address.
Elizabeth Alexander: A biography and selected poems from the inaugural poet from her web site.
African Americans and American Politics: An image gallery from the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture at New York Public Library of notable African Americans in history, from Crispus Attucks to Barack Obama.
A reading comprehension lesson comparing and contrasting nonfiction writing about Franklin Delano Roosevelt's first 100 days in office with the President-Elect's plans for his first 100 days.
M.S. 88 Witnessing History: Inauguration 2009
On January 20, 2009, M.S. 88 will have the opportunity to celebrate this historic inauguration as a school community. Viewing sites will be open for houses to gather together to watch the inauguration live and write reflections as witnesses to history. Here are some resources to help you plan events and lessons leading up to the big day.
Our Plans for the Inauguration
Activities and events have been planned school-wide so that the 88 community may participate in an experience that will go down in history. Do not miss this day at 88! All parents are invited beginning at 12:00 noon. Festivities and activities will include:Inauguration Day Schedule
The partnership between the DOE and ABC News will allow for a continual internet news feed before and after President-Elect Obama's inauguration ceremony on Tuesday, following the schedule below.Classroom Resources
Notable Speeches from the President-Elect
Lesson Plans